Pope demands end of nuclear weapons and protection of unborn children at the UN New York headquarters for 'historic' launch of Sustainable Development Goals to solve world poverty, inequality and climate change before 2030

In a wide-ranging speech at the UN's New York HQ, Pope Francis outlined his vision of a better world

He spoke about the persecution of Christians, the Iran nuclear deal, drug trafficking and womens' rights

Francis called for reform to global bodies, including the UN Security Council and financial lenders

At UN for launch of Sustainable Development Goals to solve world poverty and climate change by 2030

Upon leaving the United Nations meeting, Francis visited the 9/11 memorial in downtown Manhattan

Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for a more humane global system that respects the poor and the environment, calling for an end to nuclear weapons and urged the world to protect unborn children in a powerful address to the United Nations this afternoon.

The Pontiff, whose reform-minded approach has won him a rousing global following even from non-believers, offered his vision of a better world as he spoke in New York.

In a wide-ranging speech, Francis touched on an array of hot-button topics, including the persecution of Christians, the Iran nuclear deal, drug trafficking - 'silently killing millions' - and the rights of girls to an education.

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Impassioned: Pope Francis urged a more humane global system that respects the poor and the environment while he called for an end to nuclear weapons at an address to the United Nations in New York this afternoon

Plea: In his address to the United Nations on the eve of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in New York today, Pope Francis also called on the world to protect unborn children

'We Christians...believe that the universe is the fruit of a loving decision by the Creator, who permits man respectfully to use creation for the good of his fellow men and for the glory of the Creator; he is not authorized to abuse it, much less to destroy it,' Pope Francis said at the UN today

Hard-hitting: Francis touched on an array of hot-button topics, including the persecution of Christians, the Iran nuclear deal, drug trafficking, 'silently killing millions', and the rights of girls to an education

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Taking the UN rostrum, the leader of the world's more than one billion Catholics called for reform to global bodies, including the UN Security Council and financial lenders, to 'limit every kind of abuse and usury'.

'The international financial agencies should care for the sustainable development of countries and should ensure that they are not subjected to oppressive lending systems which, far from promoting progress, subject people to mechanisms which generate greater poverty, exclusion and dependence,' he said.

Francis, the first Latin American Pope, hails from Argentina - where economic crises have fueled criticism of the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund and other institutions.

He also gave his latest passionate plea to protect the environment, as he voiced confidence that a high-stakes UN conference on climate change would reach a 'fundamental and effective' agreement in Paris in December.

Popular: Pope Francis smiled as he took his seat inside the United Nations General Assembly room today. His reform-minded approach has won him a rousing global following even from non-believers

Rousing: The Pope arrives to deliver his address to the United Nations on the eve of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in New York. There, he called for the rights of girls to an education

Historic: Pope Francis arrives to address the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at United Nations headquarters today, for the historic launch of Sustainable Development Goals

Speech: Taking the UN rostrum, the leader of the world's more than one billion Catholics called for reform to global bodies, including the UN Security Council and financial lenders, to 'limit every kind of abuse and usury'

Reaffirming a 'right to the environment,' the Pontiff, 78, said that the universe was 'the fruit of a loving decision by the Creator' and that humanity 'is not authorised to abuse it, much less to destroy it.'

'A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged,' he said.

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

The poor fare worst because they are 'forced to live off what is discarded and suffer unjustly from the abuse of the environment,' he said.

The Pope is at the UN for the official adoption of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The historic event, which has been billed as ‘the biggest launch in history’, follows nearly three years of negotiations over the proposed sustainability goals.

Made of up 17 goals and 169 associated targets , the UN aims to offer an effective solution to world poverty, hunger, inequality and climate change by 2030

The SDGs have been drawn up by UN member states to help shape government policies over the next 15 years.

But critics argue that the goals are too wide ranging.

David Miliband, former UK foreign secretary, who now heads the International Rescue Committee, said he would have preferred a stronger emphasis on the needs of people affected by conflict.

‘But the politics around conflict go to the heart of questions of national sovereignty that is very jealously guarded,’ Mr Miliband told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

‘We would like to have seen a much more thorough recognition of the increasing overlap between conflict and extreme poverty.’

He pointed to estimates that 63 per cent of the world’s extreme poor will be living in conflict states by 2030, up from 43 per cent today.

Despite concerns over the wording, development experts have welcomed the fact that the SDGs are the first major UN agreement to make a commitment to peaceful and inclusive societies a central part of the world’s vision for progress.

The previous UN action plan, the Millennium Development Goals, which were adopted in 200 and expire this year, did not have an explicit goal on peace and security.

British lawmaker John Alderdice, who played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process, said he was 'disappointed' peace and governance were not higher priorities, but said at least it gave a mandate to push for change.

‘There are a lot of countries in the world where governance is deteriorating rather than improving,’ Mr Alderdice said.

Heads of State from around the world who were consulted on the SDGs gathered for the summit to hear the Pontiff deliver his rousing speech.

They heard him appeal for peace and plea for the protection of Christians, as well as others, persecuted by extremists in Syria and Iraq.

He gave a strong endorsement of Iran's agreement with the United States and five other world powers to limit its nuclear program, the day after he spoke to the US Congress, where many lawmakers vehemently oppose the deal.

The Iran agreement 'is proof of the potential of political goodwill, exercised with sincerity, patience and constancy,' Francis said.

'I express my hope that this agreement will be lasting and efficacious, and bring forth the desired fruits with the cooperation of all the parties involved,' he said.

Francis reserved some of his strongest words for drug trafficking, a scourge that has especially affected Latin America.

He described drug trafficking as a conflict that is 'not always so open, yet is silently killing millions of people.'

'Drug trafficking is by its very nature accompanied by trafficking in persons, money laundering, the arms trade, child exploitation and other forms of corruption,' he said.

Francis, selected as Pope in 2013, has won an avid following even among non-Catholics for his embrace of causes such as climate change and shift away from a rigid focus on social issues.

Rapurous: Pope Francis entered the General Assembly room illuminated by a spotlight today at the organisation's headquarters in New York to huge applause as he delivered an impassioned address on how he sees the world

End poverty: Pope Francis addressed a small group of United Nations employees in New York ahead of his address to the General Assembly. He called for an end to drug trafficking, which is 'silently killing millions'

'I am grateful for all that you have done to prepare for my visit,' the Pope told United Nations staffers, adding that he was sorry for all that couldn't make it to the speech 'because of the lottery.'

Respectful: After his address to the UN staffers, the Pope laid a wreath for all UN employees who have died doing their good work around the world. He wants an end to world poverty by 2030

In one remark that shaped opinions early in his papacy, Francis said of gay priests, 'Who am I to judge?'

But at the United Nations, he signaled that the Church was not ready to champion transgender rights, an issue that has drawn growing attention in the United States as gay equality becomes mainstream.

'The defence of the environment and the fight against exclusion demand that we recognise a moral law written into human nature itself, one which includes the natural difference between man and woman and absolute respect for life in all its stages and dimensions,' Francis said.

Smiles: The Pontiff's speech marked the largest gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in the organization's 70-year history. In his powerful address, he called for an end to nuclear weapons and urged the world to protect unborn children

Honour: Shortly after arriving at the UN, the popular Pope was ushered into a room with the Secretary General to sign the UN's guest book

Remberence: In a moving sign of respect for those who died, Pope Francis arrived at the 9/11 memorial in downtown Manhattan today, after giving a memorable speech to the UN General Assembly

In a possible allusion to same-sex marriage, he warned against an 'ideological colonisation by the imposition of anomalous models and lifestyles which are alien to people's identity and, in the end, irresponsible.'

But he backed the rights of girls, throwing his considerable weight behind a UN goal of a right to education for all children - regardless of gender.

Francis has enjoyed a warm response in the United States, with President Barack Obama welcoming him personally on Wednesday and championing the Pontiff's leadership.

Crowds of well-wishers lined the partially closed streets of New York, waving Vatican flags and holding signs to welcome Francis.

The Pope later Friday will deliver a mass for tens of thousands at New York's Madison Square Garden.

He will later head to Philadelphia, where he will greet huge crowds at the Festival of Families, a Catholic gathering that takes place every three years.